Search called off for woman

A Michigan State Police helicopter searched the Straits of Mackinac Tuesday in an effort to find a woman who apparently leapt to her death from the Mackinac Bridge Monday afternoon.

By MIKE FORNESmike@cheboygantribune.com

A Michigan State Police helicopter searched the Straits of Mackinac Tuesday in an effort to find a woman who apparently leapt to her death from the Mackinac Bridge Monday afternoon. Michigan State Police and Mackinac Bridge Authority patrols responded to the scene just after 5 p.m. on Monday and left the bridge by 7 p.m. The U.S. Coast Guard also had a small boat from Coast Guard Station St. Ignace searching the waters east of the bridge toward Mackinac Island until 7 p.m., and diverted the cutter Mobile Bay to the scene. Conditions at the time included high winds from the northwest, snow and heavy seas.The woman was at some point seen in the water just north of the south tower on the east side of the span.“At this point, the search has been suspended,” said Sgt. Gary Demers of the St. Ignace Post. “An abandoned vehicle was towed from the scene to St. Ignace.”An Arnold Transit ferry returning to St. Ignace from Mackinac Island also aided in searching the area but was unable to locate the victim.